Oncology/Hematology

Oncology/Hematology

Diagnosing and treating cancer, in its many forms, is one of the principal goals at GRMC. We understand the anxiety that comes with a cancer diagnosis and we will do all that we can to ease that anxiety by providing the most comprehensive care in our region.

The GRMC Infusion Services Department is led by Dr. Paul Cot. Dr. Coty is a Hematologist and Oncologist. He also serves as the Chief Medical Officer at GRMC.

Dr. Coty earned his medical degree at the SUNY Upstate Medical Center. He did his Internship at the Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City, completed his residency at the North Shore University Hospital on Long Island, and finished a fellowship at St. Vincent’s Cancer Center in Manhattan.

We practice a team approach at GRMC. We are committed to providing each patient and their family, with the information they need to decide on the best course of treatment for their loved one. The specialists in each department work with each other, and with the patient’s primary care physician, in order to plan and carry out the best course of treatment from start to finish.

In addition, GRMC is equipped to diagnose a wide range of blood disorders including anemias, clotting and bleeding issues. We also offer advanced immunotherapy that specifically targets cancer cells without harming healthy tissues.

Pediatric Oncology: The most common types of cancers encountered in children and teenagers are leukemia and lymphoma; brain cancer, and sarcomas of the bone, all of which are treated here at GRMC. GRMC offers a full range of supportive care services to our young patients and their families.

Our Pediatric Oncologist is Dr. Ana Sanchez. Dr. Sanchez received her medical degree at the Universidad del Valle in Colombia. She finished a Residency in Pediatrics at the University of Florida’s Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

​Among the conditions treated:

• Skin cancers

• Prostate and bladder cancer

• Bladder and bone tumors

• Brain tumors

• Breast and cervical cancer

• Colon and rectal cancer

• Leukemia

• Liver and lung cancer

​Among the diagnostic tests and technologies available:

Biopsy – A biopsy is a sample of suspicious tissue taken from the body in order to examine it for disease. This remains the principal means of diagnosing cancer and the procedure is crucial in guiding the next step to manage the disease. GRMC offers many different types of biopsies that are guided by sophisticated technology, including mammogram guided biopsies, ultrasound guided biopsies and Computerized Tomography guided biopsies.

Interventional Imaging – GRMC is equipped with the “Artis Zeego”, an interventional imaging system. It is the first device of its kind to use a multi-axis platform to make large volume CT-like scans in a single 6-second sweep. It makes it easier than ever before to identify tumors.

Endoscopy – An Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a person’s digestive tract. When using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it, your doctor can view your digestive tract, identify polyps or cancerous growths and biopsy anything that is not normal.

Blood tests and tumor markers are also used to identify certain types of cancers.

Among the treatments offered:

Surgical Oncology – GRMC emphasizes the use of minimally invasive surgery using image guidance, in combination with other advanced technology, to precisely target cancerous tumors. That reduces the damage to healthy cells. Most patients who undergo surgery are outpatients, and require only a short stay in the hospital. Surgery is often used in combination with other treatments, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. These powerful medications circulate in the bloodstream and destroy cancer cells by stopping their ability to grow.

Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy attacks cancer cells by damaging their DNA, the molecules inside cells that pass on genetic information from one generation to the next. Cancer cells whose DNA is damaged beyond repair stop dividing or die. The procedure usually takes only a few minutes each day. The radiology team works together with our oncologists and with the primary care physician to develop the best treatment plan for our patients.